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| Theta Chi alumnus Allen Haff (left) and Clinton Jones (right) team up for a new reality series on Spike TV |
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| Christopher Piscopo, left, is one of the first scholarship recipients |
[Editor's note: the following article is courtesy of the National Football Foundation]
DALLAS, Oct. 18, 2010 - The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced today that former NCAA Executive Vice President Tom Jernstedt (Alpha Sigma/Oregon 1966) will be recognized with an NFF Legacy Award during the 2010 NFF Annual Awards Dinner, which will take place Dec. 7 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.
"Since the early 1970s, Tom Jernstedt has been a steady and powerful force in the growth of intercollegiate athletics while playing a pivotal role in expanding opportunities for student-athletes," said NFF President and CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "Tom is a true pioneer and visionary who been one of the key invisible hands that have helped guide college athletics during the past four decades. We are proud to recognize him for his contributions that will benefit countless generations for years to come."
Jernstedt will be recognized at the 2010 Annual Awards Dinner in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 1,500 of the most powerful and influential people in the world of college football. Also that night, the NFF will induct the 2010 College Football Hall of Fame Class from the Football Bowl Subdivision, distribute $300,000 in scholarships to the 2010 Class of NFF National Scholar-Athletes, and present its major awards to some of our nation's finest leaders.
A graduate of the University Oregon, where he played quarterback and offensive end for Hall of Fame Coach Len Casanova from 1964-66, Jernstedt got his start in athletics administration working for Casanova who had become the Oregon athletics director. Jernstedt left Oregon and joined the NCAA in 1972 as a director of events, earning a promotion to assistant executive director just two years later. He subsequently held a number of senior-level management positions during the next four decades, culminating in his appointment in 2003 as executive vice president and second in command of the organization. In August 2010, Jernstedt announced his retirement after 38 years of service with the NCAA.
During his tenure at the NCAA, Jernstedt oversaw Division I Football, and he served as the president of USA Basketball and on the board of the U.S. Olympic Committee. He played a key role in nurturing the growth of the NCAA Basketball tournament from $1 million in revenue and 32 teams in 1972, the year before he ran the tournament, to 68 teams this coming year and a new $10.8 billion television rights deal that runs from 2011 to 2024.
"He's the guy more than anybody else who has allowed the event to evolve," said Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany, who serves on the NFF Board, in a 2008 interview with the Sports Business Journal. "The beauty of the tournament is the way it's been allowed to grow from the bottom up, not from the top down. And that's a credit to Tom. His genius is the subtlety of his leadership."
About the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 121 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame, Play It Smart, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association, the NFF Gridiron Clubs of New York City, Dallas, and Los Angeles, and scholarships of over $1 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF presents the MacArthur Bowl, the Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.
Brett Peters (Zeta Beta/Adrian 1995) became the youngest recipient of Adrian College's Alumni Service Award over Homecoming Weekend at the College's annual Alumni Awards presentation. The Alumni Service Award is presented annually to a "dedicated volunteer contributing time, talent and service to Adrian College." Brother Peters was recognized for his more than 15 years of constant support of Adrian. Congratulations, brother!
Brett Peters has not missed a homecoming weekend since he graduated from Adrian College in 1995. He loves coming back to reconnect with old friends and see the changes to campus. He was in attendance at the 150th Gala in March 2009 to help celebrate the College’s sesquicentennial.
Brett is an avid supporter of the Bulldogs and continues to travel throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin to attend sporting events. He has been to over 65 Adrian College games and was present for the baseball team’s first ever appearance at the College World Series in 2008 in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Brett is an unofficial recruiter for the College, referring numerous prospective college athletes to coaches. He has donated funds to support building projects on campus, academic scholarships and shared his photography of AC events. Brett is an avid promoter engaging alumni in conversation about the many positive changes and improvements that have taken place over the last five years.
Brett is devoted to his fraternity. He is responsible for maintaining the Zeta Beta Chapter of Theta Chi’s alumni database, serves as its alumni association secretary and keeps the fraternity brothers abreast of current events. He has served as a regional counselor, as facilitator for regional and national events, and as a campus alumni advisor. He currently serves on two national committees and as a Colony Advisory Board Member for the Alpha Lambda Colony at The Ohio State University.
Brett has a kind heart and has also volunteered his time and funds to many other non-profit organizations including the Red Cross of Greater Columbus, March of Dimes, Mid-Ohio Food Bank and many more.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in communications-mass media, he attended Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University and earned his master’s in business administration with an emphasis on human resources.
Brett currently serves as the Class Agent for the Adrian College Class of 1995. He has worked hard to get his fellow classmates back on campus today for their 15th reunion and encourage them to support their alma mater.
Brett currently resides in Columbus, Ohio, and works for Alpha 1 Induction Service Center where he is in charge of inventory control and acts as the safety coordinator.
John Garrett (Theta Eta/Sam Houston State 1997) has been honored as Sam Houston State's Outstanding Young Alumnus, an award he will receive on Oct. 15 during this year’s homecoming festivities. The award recognizes alumni under the age of 40 who have “distinguished themselves through personal and professional achievements and who have made significant contributions to SHSU and/or society, and thus have brought honor and distinction to our university.”
“Sam Houston gave me the opportunity to learn how to lead an organization,” he said. “My experience as president of Theta Chi Fraternity taught me how to achieve goals and how to lead people who come from different backgrounds and value systems."
Brother Garrett is also currently featured on the Sam Houston State website. Thanks to Rory Huddleston (Theta Eta/Sam Houston State 2003) for the update.
